The Plurality of Parenting Concepts: A Review of Co-parenting, Shared Parenting, Joint Parenting, and Equal Parenting

When exploring the early roots of problems observed in childhood and adolescence, the importance of parenting and parents’ collaborative stance becomes evident. Chronosystem-based studies highlight that parent–child interactions have evolved alongside rising divorce rates. In this context, the literature employs the terms co-parenting, shared parenting, joint parenting, and equal parenting. This review compares these concepts and assesses whether they can be unified under a single umbrella term. Twenty-one Turkish-sample studies conducted between 2017 and 2023 were screened; fifteen met the inclusion criteria and were analysed. Findings show that joint parenting centres on how parents distribute and manage child-related tasks; shared parenting stresses the father’s involvement in the child’s well-being; co-parenting embraces not only the division of responsibilities but also the sharing of goals and dreams within a triangular mother–father–child relationship; and equal parenting foregrounds gender-egalitarian ideas, balanced working hours, and comparable salaries, with duties assumed by choice. Although all four models positively influence children’s development and adaptation, joint and co-parenting emerge as more decisive factors through their focus on parental attitudes and behaviours. Overall, the evidence suggests that future research—supported by expert consensus—may adopt a single, comprehensive concept.